English - other ways to access tech?

Age of Empires IV Ask for Help
1

I’m playing English.
I’m not building any Stables, Barracks, Archery Ranges, or Siege Workshops.
I also don’t care about Naval right now.
I’m not building military in Age 1.
In Age 2, I can build all the Archery Range units using the Council Hall I build at the end of Age 1 (and research Arrow Volley here too in Age 4).
So at the end of Age 2, I build the White Tower which gives me access to ALL military units and siege weapons. I can also build Keeps which give me this ability too (I think?).

Question 1: Stables have no tech, Barracks have Armor Clad (which I don’t care about), Archery Ranges have no more tech than the Council Hall, BUT… for Siege tech, is there any way to research tech like Greased Axels, Roller Shutter Triggers, Adjustable Crossbars, Geometry, Light Weight Beams, or Shattering Projectiles WITHOUT having to built a Siege Workshop? Can they be researched elsewhere (Keeps, Landmarks, Blacksmith, TC, University, etc.)?

Question 2: Which of those 6 techs are good/worth the cost? Which should be avoided?

Thanks! (Yes, I know it’s weird strategy. I’m new, lol).

2

No, you need a siege workshop for those techs.

You also need barracks and stables if you want veteran and elite upgrades for those units.

All of those techs have their use depending on which siege you’re using. Adjustable crossbars in particular is very strong for mangonels (but very expensive). I think greased axels is always worth getting for any siege.

3

Thanks. I can’t believe the Tech Tree does NOT show the unit upgrades in barracks and stables. It shows almost everything else.
Why leave these out??!

I’d been researching the English through the Tech Tree and I can’t believe they would leave those out. No wonder my plans are flawed, lol.